Girdle-stocking combination with antiride-up and gap-preventing means



Oct. 7. 1969 M. GOTTLIEB 3,470,878

GIRDbE-STOCKING COMBINATION WITH ANTIRIDE-UP AND GAP-PREVENTING MEANS Filed Aug. 8, 1968 FIG.4

H INVENTOR MICHAEL GOTTLIEB TTORNEYS United States Patent 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A girdle and stocking combination comprising a girdle with depending leg portions having frictional ride-up preventing means adjacent the lower ends of the leg portions comprising stretch lace with an inwardly facing friction surface and an upper region also of the stretch lace, these upper regions having a plurality of eyelets, a stocking, and means, such as buttons, hooks or the like, attached near the upper end of the stocking and engageable in the eyelets.

RELATED APPLICATION A related application Ser. No. 631,035 (of which this case is a continuation-impart) is oopending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a girdle or panty all-in-one for the lower torso in combination with a stocking for use with womens short skirts, or the like, where a portion of the wearers thigh is often publicly exposed, so that a pleasing-t-o-the-eye and decorative line is formed between the top of the stocking and the leg portions of the girdle. Similarly, the invention can be used with other outer ladies garments, such as slacks, to give a smooth line underneath, even though no portion of the thigh will be publicly exposed.

In recent years womens fashions have changed radically in that the length of ladies skirts has been greatly shortened so that the hemline generally falls at or above the knee. Furthermore, it is now quite common to see women wearing a miniskirt which is a ladies skirt with a hemline well above the knee of the wearer so that a substantial portion of thethigh is often publicly exposed even when the wearer stands upright. In either case, with normal present fashions or with miniskirts, it is obvious that the hem of the skirt will ride up the wearers leg when the wearer bends, stoops, kneels or sits, thereby exposing even a larger portion of the thigh than when the wearer stands in the upright position.

In the past women have supported their long sheer stockings in a variety of ways which includes garters, rolling down the welt of the stocking to a point just above the knee or attaching the welt of the stocking to a girdle, garter belt, or the like, in any number of ways, All these methods, regardless of their efiiciency, result in an unsightly transition from the stocking to the supporting mechanism which is displeasing to the eye and was never meant to be exposed plublicly. This disadvantage is overcome by the invention described and claimed in said copending application. One fault of the latter-named invention has been the annoying tendency of the leg portions of the girdle to ride up on the wearers legs relative to the tops of the stocking when the wearer sits down leaving unsightly gaps. This fault is now corrected by the means of the present invention which is aimed at eliminating such gaps and avoiding sag as. well.

The change in ladies fashions, however, has now necessitated not only a girdle-stocking combination which provides a smooth decorative line on the wearers leg with a substantially undiscernible means of attachment to the girdle since this portion of the wearers leg is now he quently exposed publicly, but also which provides means to prevent riding up of the leg portion of the girdle relative to the tops when the wearer sits down so as to prevent appearance of gaps and undesired exposure and also avoid the need for pulling the leg portions down again on standing up to close the gaps and prevent sag of the stockings.

Girdle-stocking combinations in the past which have the leg portions of the girdle overlying the sheer stocking used very tight bands of elastic material on the inside of the leg portion of the girdle for tightly engaging the stocking to keep it taut on the wearers leg. Besides being uncomfortable and constrictively tight, these devices, without a positive engagement between girdle and stocking, were not effective in keeping the stocking taut and resulted in sagging when the wearer bent the leg and, moreover, did not prevent leg portion ride-up on sitting down and such devices did not use a decorative stretch lace. Both of these problems are overcome also, by the present invention and uncomfortable tightness of the elastic is eliminated because of positive engagement between the stockings and leg portions.

Other devices which used clips, buttons or other positive means of engagement did not use a decorative stretch lace on the girdle nor were they concerned with covering substantially the entire welt portion of the stocking or with forming a smooth, decorative line between the stocking and girdle which was pleasing to the eye when viewed in public and smooth under slacks which are now in vogue, or with avoiding ride-up and undesired gap exposure on sitting down. These disadvantages are overcome by the present invention.

The customary use of two garters (front and back) causes an uneven pull between girdle and stocking on two sides 'of the stockings, with the stocking extending down on the other two sides, causing a gap, the stocking sagging sometimes as far down as the knee. With the present invention, the stocking can be attached in two, three or more places to distribute tension around the leg, without the bulk associated with garters and the added expense of attaching garters to the girdle can be eliminated.

In the past, at least two garters on a woven elastic edge have been used to attach the stocking to the girdle. With the present invention, the manufacturer can replace the woven material, the garters and the body fabric by a certain width of elastic lace which would be less expensive. The sewing labor to attach lace to a girdle is the same as attaching the woven elastic, and the price of the lace is no more expensive than the body fabric, so there is a net saving of garters and woven leg band.

It is an object of this invention to provide a girdlestocking combination in which ride-up and gapping on I sitting is prevented and need for readjustment to close the gaps and prevent sagging on standing is eliminated and which has a smooth decorative line between the top of a long sheer ladys stocking and the leg portions of the girdle to which the stockings are attached and to cover substantially all of the welt portions of the stockings.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a positive means of attachment between the stockings and girdle to insure that the stockings do not become loosened or sag on the wearers legs, and also to provide simple and effective positive comfortable as well as decorative means to prevent ride-up of leg portions on sitting or any need for their readjustment on standing up.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a means of attaching the stocking to the girdle leg portion at different heights relative the leg of the wearer so as to accommodate wearers of various heights.

Another object of the present invention is to give smooth line under slacks, ski-wear, or the like Without use of garters.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent sagging of stockings at knee and back by the use of minimal adjuncts.

Other objects will become clear upon a further reading of this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides for a ladys girdle for the lower torso which has depending leg portions, the bottom of each of which is provided with stretch lace parts. These stretch lace parts, each with a patterned motif thereon, are attached to the lower leg portions and each is provided with a backing strip on its under or inner face of elastic material such as rubber with a corrugated surface that is designed to make frictional contact with the upper portion of the stocking. These stretch lace parts also are provided above the inwardly facing backing strip with a series of eyelets spaced apart from each other in a horizontal row disposed near the lower region of the respective leg portions of the girdle above the respective backing strips. The long sheer stockings are each provided with a series of hooks, buttons or other means grommeted, heat sealed, or sewn to the top of the stockings and similarly spaced apart from each other to form a horizontal row of hooks (or attachers) adjacent the top of the stockings. The hooks of the stockings are small and are attached to the stockings so that the hooks face outward from the leg and so that the eyelets bearing part of the lace portion of the girdle may be superimposed over the tops of the respective stockings, the hooks of the stockings engaging the eyelets of the lace and the hooks being substantially undiscernible to the eye. The welts of the respective stockings can be tucked under this part of the lace since this part of the lace portion of the girdle is sufficiently long to substantially cover the entire welts of the respective stockings, forming a smooth decorative line, which is pleasing to the eye, between the tops of the stockings and the outer ends of second lace part of the girdle. A plurality of horizontal rows of eyelets may be provided on each lace part of the respective leg portions so that the wearer can conveniently select a height of engagement that is comforftable, the entire welt portions of the stockings always being substantially covered by the second lace parts of the girdle. The friction material of the backing strips of the stretch lace faces inwardly to engage directly the stocking surfaces below the hooks or buttons with sufficient tautness to prevent gap formation without proving uncomfortable as the major portion of the load is carried by the hooks or buttons in the interengaged eyelets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A description of the drawing of the present invention follows:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention in use on a wearer;

FIGURE 2 is a front view of one leg of a wearer, in partial section showing one embodiment of the stocking and engaging means attached to the top of the stocking during application by the wearer;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the engaging means shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial side view in section of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 and showing the manner of engagement;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmetnary perspective, showing an alternate embodiment of the engaging means attached to the top of the stocking, and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the friction material bearing stretch lace part.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGURE 1, a girdle 1 is provided which fits generally the lower torso, although a full length girdle could also be used. Depending from the main portion of the girdle are the leg portions 2, 3 which cover a portion of the thigh of the wearer. The main part of the girdle is of a stretch material that is well known in the art. The lower portions of each leg ortion 2, 3 of the girdle, however, is bordered by respective stretch lace bands 4, each having a fancy motif patterned therein. This stretch lace of these bands is preferably made of Leavers lace or Rachel lace.

The respective stretch lace bands 4 each is provided on its internally facing surface near its outermost edge with a selected width of a strip of frictional material 5 which may be corrugated rubber or other suitable material which will directly engage the upper surface of the stocking after the latter has been secured to the bands 4 as will be described, thus preventing gap formation and eliminating any need for readjustment on again standing up. The lower lace bands 4 of the respective leg portions 2, 3 of the girdle 1 are provided above the strips 5 with a series of eyelets 6, which are simply small holes preferably placed throughout the circumference of the lace band 4 which surrounds the respective legs of the wearer. These eyelets 6 are spaced horizontally apart from each other to form a horizontal row around the respective entire lace band 4 of the girdle above the strips 5. As shown in FIGURE 1, preferably there are a plurality of horizontal rows of eyelets 6 located at graduated heights on each lace band 4 of the girdle. The vertical separation between adjacent rows is not critical and may be any convenient distance, for example, /3" or /2". The height of each entire lace band 4 is also not critical and may be about 1", for example, if only one horizontal row of eyelets 6 is to be provided, or may be as much as about 4" or 5" if several rows of eyelets 6 are to be provided. The only requirement is that there be a sufiicient length of lace band 4 below the bottom row of eyelets 6 so as to substantially cover the entire welt of the nylon stocking when the lace band 4 is superimposed thereover, as more fully described below.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG- URES l and 2 with a long sheer stocking 7, preferably nylon, being provided. In this embodiment, each stocking 7 has a welt portion 8 at its upper end. Grommeted or otherwise aflixed to each welt portion 8 of the stocking is a series of eyelet engaging means 9, called attachers, spaced apart from each other horizontally to form a horizontal row of attachers around the top of each stocking as more clearly shown in FIGURE 2. The attachers 9 are preferably hooks as shown in FIGURE 3, but may be buttons B as shown in FIGURE 4 or the like. Only one row of hooks 9 may be provided, since the accommodation for different height is preferably accomplished by having a plurality of rows of eyelets 6 in each lower lace band 5 of the girdle. The hooks 9 are preferably located on the welt 8 so that the welt portion of each stocking below the hooks 9 is of less width than the Width of each lace band 5 of the girdle below the row of eyelets 6 which is engaged by the hooks. Thus, substantially each entire welt 8 of the stocking will be covered by a lace band 4 of the girdle so that a smooth decorative line is formed between each stocking and the bottom edge of the lower lace band 5 of the girdle to which it is attached. Preferably, no portion of each welt 8 will be visible below the bottom edge of the lower lace band to which it is attached, as is seen in FIGURE 1.

As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the hooks 9 are grommeted to each welt 8 of each stocking so that the eyelet engaging part of the hook faces away from the leg of the wearer. The reason for this is that each stocking 7 Will be placed underneath the surface of a lace band 4 of the girdle, the said band 4 being superimposed over the hooks and the welt of the stocking, 'so that when the hooks are engaged in the eyelets of the lace, the-hook bodies will be substantially undiscernible to the eye.

Horizontal spacingbetween hooks is not important since two, three or four hooks can be used and the eyelets in the lace band 4 are continuous and integrated in the lace pattern, 'as is well known by those skilled in the art of lace making. In this way; lateral tension will be substantially eliminated. I

The minimum number of hooks in'a single row should be suflicient to adequately hold up each stocking all around the leg. In practice, it has been found that at least two hooks placed adjacent the top of each stocking are suflicient and adequate. In panty girdles they will be placed usually in the front and back of the leg andlikewise on garter belts and girdles. In the past, due to, the bulk involved and the sensitivity of the skin on the inner thigh, it has not been practical to put attachments on the inner thigh portion of the garment, and the stockings have had a tendency to sag. A greater number of hooks, for example, 4, would be preferable and possible with the present invention to prevent the sag and creasing of the stocking, now a prevalent condition with current model girdles.

It is not necessary to reinforce the eyelets 6 in such a manner that the eyelets do not have any tendency to rip when engaged with the hooks, since this can be done in the knitting of the lace itself in any one of several methods well known in the art.

The operation of the above combination is simple. The wearer first puts on the girdle 1 and leg portions 2 and 3 are adjusted to proper position on the thighs, the friction surfaces 5 of bands 4 holding them in position. The long sheer stockings 7 are then put on over the legs, and pulled taut over them to their fully extended positions. The stretch lace bands 4 of the girdle are then raised over the respective welts 8 of the stockings and the hooks 9 of the latter are engaged in corresponding eyelets 6 in a row located at a sufficient height which is both comfortable to the wearer yet high enough to keep the stocking taut on the leg. Thus, there will be no tendency for the hooks to disengage themselves from the eyelets when the wearer bends, sits, kneels, stoops, etc. The lower lace band 4 of each leg portion of the girdle, after being engaged with the hooks, is then lowered and smoothed out so that it covers the entire welt 8 of the respective stockings, as shown in FIGURE 1 and the inwardly facing strips 5 frictionally and directly engage the stocking below the hook 9 or buttons B. Thus, a smooth decorative line between the stocking and the bottom edge of the lace portion of the girdle is formed on the wearers leg. The friction surface of strips 5 on the inner face of the lace bands 4 engages intimately with the surface of the stocking below the hooks 9 or buttons B and because of the stretch qualities of said bands 4 and strips 5 as well as of the material of the girdle proper serves to prevent riding or sliding up of the girdle leg portions 2 and 3 during motion of the wearer and particularly when sitting down, thus avoiding undesired gaps or exposure of thigh skin during such procedure. Moreover, it eliminates any need for re-adjustment of the leg portions 2 and 3 on again standing up and eliminates any sag problem.

If desired, the lace band 4 may be made of two separate pieces joined together, Whose width equals to the width of the lace bands 4 shown and the friction strip 5 applied to the lower piece in region thereof below the outermost tier of eyelets so that it will lie on the inside when secured to the leg portions of the girdle so as to come in direct contact with the stocking on attachment of the latter to the eyelets in the band 4. This would eliminate a need for applying the strip 5 directly to the stretch lace bands 4 and permit separate manufacture of the lace band pieces bearing such strips 5.

Since the main support is provided by the interengagement of the hooks or buttons B with the eyelets 6, these function bands 5 need not be so tight as to cause discomfort or constriction on the wearers thighs while avoiding gap formation and sagging in effective manner.

While specific embodiments have been disclosed variations made in practice within the scope of the claims are contemplated. There isno intention of limitation to the exact abstract or the specific embodiments shown in the drawings and described in the foregoing specification.

What is claimed is: e

1. A' girdle and stocking combination comprising (a) a girdle having depending leg portions including stretch lace annular bands secured to lower extremities of the leg portions, said bands having each frictional means facing inwardly and having a plurality of eyelets spaced around them above said frictional means,

(b) a stocking having a welt portion at its upper end,

and

(c) means attached to the welt portion of the stocking and spaced around the welt portion of the stocking for interengaging with the correspondingly located eyelets of one of the bands of the leg portions of the girdle from the underside of the band,

(1) the said band of each leg portion of the girdle then extending over the welt portion of the stocking with inwardly facing frictional means directly engaging the surface of the welt portion, whereby the stocking is maintained on the wearer in an extended position and a smooth decorative line is formed by the stocking and the band of stretch lace at the lower extremities of the leg portion of the girdle, and the frictional means engaging the welt portion to prevent ride up and gap formation between the stocking and the leg portions.

2. For use in a girdle-stocking combination, a girdle having depending leg portions, stretch lace mounted as an annular band secured to respective extremities of the leg portions of the girdle, said stretch lace having inwardly facing frictional means, and having eyelets at intervals at several different levels for attachment thereto at a selected level from the underside of the stretch lace of fastening means secured to upper ends of stockings so that the stretch lace thereafter overlies the upper ends of the stockings and forms a smooth decorative line concealing said upper ends of said stocking, and the frictional means engages directly the stockings below their fastening means to prevent ride-up and gap formation.

3. For use in a girdle-stocking combination according to claim 2, said frictional means comprising a selected width of corrugated material.

4. For use in a girdle-stocking combination according to claim 3, said corrugated material being rubber with corrugations on its inner surface.

5. A girdle-stocking combination comprising a girdle having depending leg portions, stretch lace secured as an annular band at respective extremities of the leg po tions of the girdle, said bands each having frictional means facing inwardly, said stretch lace having eyelets at intervals therein, stockings, fastening means attached to upper ends of the stockings and projecting outwardly thereof for attachment selectively in the openings in the stretch lace from the underside of the latter so that said stretch lace thereafter overlies said upper ends of the stockings and forms a smooth decorative line concealing the upper ends of said stockings, and said frictional means engaging the upper ends of said stockings to prevent rideup and gap formation between the stockings and the leg portions.

6. A girdle-stocking combination according to claim 5 wherein said eyelets are located at intervals at a plurality of levels in said stretch lace.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED FOREIGN PATENTS STATES PATENTS 1,431,883 2/1966 France.

612,500 8/192 Henderson 2240 6 France Hill 128 528 5 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner Mason 2224 Bryan Jones 128-535 2-240; 128-528, 535, 536 

